Railway car hatch cover

ABSTRACT

A railway car hatch cover includes an exterior shell cover, a gasket, and a mounting ring. The exterior shell cover has an outer-side and an under-side. The gasket is a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket, and the gasket is mounted to the mounting ring. The mounting ring is secured to the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring is removable, and the gasket is replaceable with a second gasket. The second gasket can be vented or non-vented. The mounting ring is reinstallable on the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The replaceable gasket allows a single hatch cover to function as a vented hatch cover or a non-vented hatch cover depending on the type of gasket installed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to railway car hatch covers, and more particularly to a convertible railway car hatch cover.

This invention is applicable to railway car hatch covers. On covered hopper railway cars, each car has a series of hatches on top of the car that allow the railway cars to be filled from the top with various commodities, such as plastic pellets, flour, grain food products, and the like. The hatches also allow access into the car for maintenance and an opening for venting purposes. After the railway car is loaded, a hatch cover is secured over each hatch to prevent outside substances from contaminating the goods in the car, and also to prevent spillage and secure the goods or substance inside the car for transportation. A gasket is used in each hatch cover to create an air-tight seal. When it is time to unload a loaded railway car, a suction device can be connected to a fitting on the bottom of the railway car, and the car is unloaded from the bottom. Previously, to prevent damage to the railway car that could be caused by creating a vacuum inside the car during the removal process, and to unload the car in a more efficient manner, a number of the hatch covers on each car were opened to ensure airflow through the car. During the unloading process, a worker would have to climb on top of each car to open the hatch covers to ensure proper ventilation.

As a result of the safety hazards associated with a worker climbing on top of a railway car to remove the hatch covers for unloading purposes, a vented hatch cover was developed. Vented hatch covers are placed on certain hatch openings on each covered hopper car, alternating with the traditional, non-vented hatch covers. The vented covers use a gasket with a mesh center that allows for airflow into and out of the hopper car during transit and unloading, while still preventing contaminating substances from entering the railway car. The airflow created by the vented hatch covers also eliminates the need for a worker to open the hatch covers on each car during the unloading process.

In current hatch cover designs, the gasket is attached to the hatch cover by an adhesive, a fastening device, or other like method. These methods while effective, make it difficult or very time consuming to remove the gasket from the hatch cover if the gasket is damaged or needs to be cleaned. Furthermore, because of the difference in design between vented and non-vented hatch covers, purchasers cannot use a single hatch cover in a vented capacity in one instance and a non-vented capacity in another instance. Instead, purchasers have to purchase two independent hatch covers depending on their needs.

The present invention provides a railway car hatch cover with a convertible design that can serve as either a vented or non-vented hatch cover with the simple change of the gasket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a convertible railway car hatch cover is provided for use.

One embodiment of the present railway car hatch cover includes an exterior shell cover, a gasket, and a mounting ring. The exterior shell cover has an outer-side and an under-side. The gasket is a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket, and the gasket is mounted to the mounting ring. The mounting ring is secured to the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring is removable and the gasket is replaceable with a second gasket. The second gasket can be vented or non-vented. The mounting ring is reinstallable on the under-side of the exterior shell cover.

Another embodiment of the present railway car hatch cover includes an exterior shell cover that has an outer-side and an under-side, a gasket that is vented or non-vented, and a mounting ring with the gasket mounted to the mounting ring. The mounting ring containing the gasket is secured to the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring is removable, and the gasket is replaceable with a new gasket. The new gasket can be vented or non-vented. The mounting ring containing the new gasket is reinstallable to the under-side of the exterior shell cover.

Another embodiment of the present railway car hatch cover includes an exterior shell cover with an outer-side and an under-side, and a mounting ring that is removably attached to the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring contains a replaceable gasket. The gasket is a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a railway car hatch cover that can be used as a vented or non-vented hatch cover by changing or replacing the gasket.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover with a removable and replaceable gasket.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover with removable gasket where the gasket is attached to a rigid ring and secured to the under-side of the hatch cover.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover with a mounting cavity or pocket for a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a condition monitoring device.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover with a mounting cavity or pocket for sensors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover without a locking arm which allows for a low profile design.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a railway hatch cover that uses a self-adjusting foot latch and spring to maintain pressure on the hatch cover and create the seal between the gasket on the hatch cover and the hatch ring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the railway car hatch cover of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the railway car hatch cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the railway car hatch cover of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the railway car hatch cover of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the self-adjusting foot latch on the railway car hatch cover of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a convertible railway car hatch cover is generally designated 10 and comprises an exterior shell cover 12, a mounting ring 28, and a gasket 30. The exterior shell cover 12 is generally round in the horizontal direction and dome-shaped in the vertical direction with respect to the railcar, but the exterior shell cover 12 can be any other shape as well. The exterior shell cover 12 has an outer-side 14 and an under-side 16. The exterior shell cover 12 is preferably molded from a polymeric material, but it can also be made from a metallic material. Hinges 18 connected to the outer-side 14 of the exterior shell cover 12 pivotally connect the convertible railway car hatch cover 10 to a set of hatch hinges 34 on top of a railway car (not shown). The hinge allows the exterior shell cover 12 to rotate up to 180 degrees with respect to the closed position.

A gasket 30 is mounted to a mounting ring 28 by pressing the gasket 30 into the mounting ring 28, and the mounting ring 28 is fastened to the under-side 16 of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring provides a solid backstop for the gasket 30, and can be fastened to the underside of the exterior shell cover 12 with nuts and bolts, rivets, screws, an adhesive, or the like. The mounting ring 28 is slightly larger in diameter than the hatch opening. The gasket 30 can be a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket, meaning a single hatch cover can be used as a vented or non-vented hatch cover depending on whether a vented or non-vented gasket is installed. Vented gaskets include a gasket with a mesh center that allows airflow into and out of the railcar, while still preventing contaminants from entering the railcar. Non-vented gaskets include a solid material that creates an air-tight seal over the hatch opening, and does not allow airflow into or out of the railcar. The gasket 30 is replaceable. The gasket 30 can be removed by pulling or cutting the gasket 30 out of the mounting ring 28 while the mounting ring is still fastened to the exterior shell cover 12, or the mounting ring 28 can be unfastened from the exterior shell cover 12 and the gasket 30 then removed. A new vented or non-vented gasket can either be pressed into the mounting ring 28 while the mounting ring is still fastened to the exterior shell cover 12, or the mounting ring 28 can be removed and the new gasket pressed into the mounting ring 28 before refastening the mounting ring 28 to the under-side 16 of the exterior shell cover 12.

The hatch cover can be opened by hand. Hatch covers on a hopper car need to be opened and closed frequently during use, because solid materials such as food product, plastic pellets, grains, and the like are loaded into the railway cars through the hatch openings on top of the cars.

The securing latch 20 that is connected to the securing latch hinges 22 to provide access to the foot latch bolt 24 and the self-adjusting foot latch 36 can be opened. The self-adjusting foot latch 36 can be attached to both the foot latch bolt 24 and the hatch bolt 38 located adjacent to the hatch opening on top of the railcar. The securing latch 20 is located opposite the hinges 18 on the outer-surface 14 of the exterior shell cover 12. The self-adjusting foot latch 36 is a spring loaded mechanism that keeps a constant compressive force between the gasket 30 and the hatch ring. The self-adjusting foot latch 36 is engaged When the exterior shell cover 12 is closed, and the self-adjusting foot latch 36 is connected to hatch bolt 38. To open the exterior shell cover 12, the self-adjusting foot latch is lifted upward, allowing the exterior hatch cover to be pivotally rotated off of the pins 26 and release the spring compression.

When the exterior shell cover 12 is in the closed position and the self-adjusting foot latch 36 is engaged, a seal is created between the gasket 30 and the hatch opening (not shown). The seal prevents contaminants from entering the interior of the railcar while the hatch cover is closed. The seal can either allow airflow into the railcar or restrict airflow completely, depending on whether the gasket 30 is a vented or non-vented gasket.

While engaged, the self-adjusting foot latch 36 maintains a constant seal between the gasket 30 and the hatch opening (not shown), by exerting a compressive force on each, keeping the gasket 30 and the hatch ring opening pressed together. The self-adjusting foot latch eliminates the need for a overhead arm to hold the exterior shell cover 12 closed, and keeps the seal tight between the gasket 30 and the hatch opening. Eliminating the overhead arm reduces the cost to manufacture the hatch cover, while also giving the hatch cover a lower profile.

The under-side 16 of the exterior shell cover 12 contains a mounting pocket or cavity 32. The mounting pocket or cavity 32 is a void in the exterior shell cover 12 that can be accessed from the under-side 16 of the exterior shell cover 12. The mounting pocket or cavity 32 can house a variety of sensors and a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. Some of the sensors that can be placed in the mounting cavity 32 are heat sensors, open/close sensors, to indicate the whether the hatch cover is open or closed, and the like. A GPS unit or similar GPS unit can also be installed in the mounting cavity 32 to transmit information regarding the railcar's location and condition of the hatch.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A railway car hatch cover comprising: an exterior shell cover; a gasket; a mounting ring; wherein said exterior shell cover has an outer-side and an under-side, and said gasket is a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket; Wherein said gasket is mounted to said mounting ring, said mounting ring secured to said under-side of said exterior shell cover; wherein said mounting ring is removable, said gasket is replaceable with a second gasket, said second gasket being vented or non-vented, and said mounting ring is reinstallable on said under-side of said exterior shell cover.
 2. The railway hatch cover of claim 1, wherein said mounting ring is circular, said mounting ring being smaller in diameter than said exterior shell cover, and slightly larger in diameter than a hatch opening on a railway car.
 3. The railway hatch cover of claim 1, wherein said gasket mounted on said mounting ring creates a seal between said gasket and a hatch ring opening on a railway car.
 4. The railway hatch cover of claim 3, wherein a self-adjusting foot latch attached to a connection point on said outer-side of said exterior shell cover to exert a compressive force on said gasket and said hatch opening, maintaining said seal between said gasket and said hatch opening.
 5. The railway czar hatch cover of claim 1, wherein said exterior shell cover contains at least one mounting pocket.
 6. The railway car hatch cover of claim 5, wherein said at least one mounting pocket contains a global positioning system (GPS) unit.
 7. The railway car hatch cover of claim 5, wherein said at least one mounting pocket contains at least one sensor.
 8. A railway car hatch cover comprising: an exterior shell cover having an outer-side and an under-side; a gasket being vented or non-vented; a mounting ring with said gasket mounted to said mounting ring; wherein said mounting ring containing said gasket is secured to said under-side of said exterior shell cover; wherein said mounting ring is removable, said gasket is replaceable with a new gasket, said new gasket being vented or non-vented, and said mounting ring containing said new gasket reinstallable to said under-side of said exterior shell cover.
 9. The railway hatch cover of claim 8, wherein said mounting ring is circular, said mounting ring being smaller in diameter than said exterior shell cover, and slightly larger in diameter than a hatch opening on a railway car.
 10. The railway hatch cover of claim 8, wherein said gasket mounted on said mounting ring creates a seal between said gasket and a hatch opening on a railway car.
 11. The railway hatch cover of claim 10, wherein a self-adjusting foot latch attached to a first connection point on said outer-side of said exterior shell cover to exert a compressive force on said gasket and said hatch opening, maintaining said seal between said gasket and said hatch opening.
 12. The railway car hatch cover of claim 8, wherein said exterior shell cover contains at least one mounting pocket.
 13. The railway car hatch cover of claim 12, wherein said at least one mounting pocket contains a global positioning system (GPS) unit.
 14. The railway car hatch cover of claim 12, wherein said at least one mounting pocket contains at least one sensor.
 15. A railway car hatch cover comprising: an exterior shell cover with an outer-side and an under-side; a mounting ring removably attached to said under-side of said exterior shell cover, said mounting ring containing a replaceable gasket, said gasket being a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket; wherein said mounting ring containing said gasket is secured to said under-side of said exterior shell cover; wherein said mounting ring is removable, said gasket is replaceable with a new gasket, said new gasket being vented or non-vented, and said mounting ring containing said new gasket reinstallable to said under-side of said exterior shell cover. 